Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Tuesday Lectionary Leanings

If you have read the previous post about "Your prayers are coveted", then you know that Cheesehead has her hands, her heart, her soul, her mind, her body full with Pastoring her church, community and family. If you have not, you need to read it, plan to be part of the prayer community at the time in your time zone that is equal to the times listed for prayer. Also there is a link to Cheesehead's posts about what is going on, or you can click on Cheesehead in Paradise on the sidebar to catch up. I am praying, and I offered to post today's Lectionary leanings in her place.

Here are the lectionary readings for this week. If you are UMC, you will be using for the O. T. passage 1 Kings 2:10 - 3:14 ;for the Psalms you will be using Psalm 111; also you will start with verse 51 of John 6 instead of 53 and go through to 58. Let's see what else, oh yes, the Episcopals in our midst get to choose between Psalm 137 or Psalm 34:9-14. Okay that's the scriptures for this Sunday; Which way am I leaning, besides "leaning on the everlasting arms"? I am leaning on Paul with Ephesians 5:15-20. Why don't you all who have had your fill of bread come on over to the Ephesians passage, you could preach on Jesus transforming lives even those who have addictions, and how important a community of faith is in dealing with addictions. Anbody see an elephant in the living room? (That's one of the sayings from AA, and it has to do with denial.)

Now for those who are still new at preaching, which I tend to consider myself at, here are some resources that I have found helpful. Perhaps as you comment, you can add some others that you use whether on the web, books, etc. After I read the scripture, pray over them; I usually start with TextthisWeek, especially if I am unsure of which passage to preach from, or if I am planning ahead. Lots of good research, commentaries, and other links. I then go to Sermons & Sermon - Lectionary Resources to check out other resources, thoughts, ideas, and illustrations. I also go to Desperate Preacher.com for their Lectionary Discussion forums, you'll have to go to their sidebar to click on the passage you are preaching on to see the discussions.

But I would like to emphasize that we have two of our own revgalblogpals who have good websites on the lectionary passages, BethQuick and Dylan's Lectionary Blog. They are really good at what they do, and thought provoking.

I tried and tried to "google" an answer to that question and all I got were websites that included that phrase ... hmph! It was interesting to see that they really spanned the gamut, however, no useful information. Durn.

Well, the word 'covet' is used positively twice (that I could find) in the NT of KJV Bible (though not specifically with regard to prayer): "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way," 1 Corinthians 12:31; and "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues," 1 Corinthians 14:39

As a middle-aged cradle Episcopalian, I grew up with the 1928 BOCP and I'm pretty sure we "covet prayer" in there somewheres. But I can't find a searchable version that lets me find out. Will be interested in anyone else's info.

Don't mean to derail the Lectionary Leanings! :) Two things that come up for me (from Episcopal lectionary) are the truth of the Ephesians passage: my, ARE WE EVER living in evil times! So often I say, "I'm glad my Gramma didn't live to see this!" We need to stay vigilant and not get distracted by the constant barrage of bad and terrible news :P and other things. We have a job to do, folks!

Also, on the gospel...I'll never forget when I realized that we were (at least symbolically in my church) eating flesh and drinking blood of a person! I was in high school and I thought, "WE ARE CANNIBALS! OMG!" I didn't take communion for several months after that because I really needed to think through it. Reading and learning about Jewish customs, Passover, etc. has helped with that. But boy, THAT was an epiphany!

Mary Beth,The Anchor Bible Dictionary Vol. 1 offers several understandings of the word Body. Under Body of Christ (p. 770) it talks about body as a means of contact and communication. This helped me as I pondered the UMC liturgy, "Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Chrsit, redeemed by his blood." Make them be for us Christ's means of contact and communication that we may be for the world Christ's means of contact and communication. Hope this is a tiny bit helpful.